TAHAWK

(Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire.) So what is the "best" - the "fire" - in Scouting? __________________________________________________________________________________________________ What might BSA do if the Patrol Method were important to BSA?

"How fire works" is both a practical and science topic. "Practical" because knowing some of the science is useful in knowing how to get a fire started.

At least two things may be at work. 1. Having a position filled on paper, with a "good Scouter" [$$$$] if possible, is the actual goal - not having it filled with a performer-. My old district has a Program Chairman who has done nothing anyone has noticed, and he was just "elected" to his third year of nothingness. He went over two years before recruiting a Cub Training Chair. This good and willing Cub Scouter was immediately told by our DE that he "had to run" Scoutmaster Specific Training, despite having never even participated on the Scouting side, This Program Chair just fou

I think he was talking about a consequence of "the" decision, not a cause, and a consequence that itself has consequences. My troop was called N888er-lovers because we sponsored and camped with an all-black troop from Watts. Scouting was called "Pinkos" and "Comsymps" by the John Birch Society because we raised $$ for UNICEF, had integrated units, and offered a "World Brotherhood" Merit Badge. We live or die on the quality of the program we offer. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What might BSA d

Matt, a DE's job is to raise money in the short term through begging, selling goods, and membership fees. Having the employees focus on better units would require convincing BSA to abjure the short-term goal of raising money in favor of the longer-term goals of better training and program, leading to better units. To be as fair as possible would require acknowledgement of the old saw about alligators and draining swamps. It's the volunteers' job to build better units. The volunteer leadership in two of the districts where I help is pretty weak. That leadership, for the most part, is s

BSA has done many studies about what variables correlate with "success" (differently defined over the decades). The variable with highest correlation with success is training - not infrastructure - not money raised- not numbers of employees. Well-trained adults and leaders (i.e. Scouts) put on good program. Good program attracts members. Boring program that offers nothing distinctive out-processes membership. Numbers of person using wilderness areas are at an all-time high. Interest in being in the wilderness is at an all-time high. Talented leadership would see that training

The official word: Mr Capp is identified by Scouting [magazine] as the National OA Chairman.

The troop sponsor when I was a Scout and young Scouter was a Methodist Church. Once a month, Scouts carried the flags in the opening procession, including the Methodist flag. One Sunday Joseph Brunton was sitting in the front row and did not seem concerned. It would never have occurred to me that there was an issue. I join the consensus.

The 8-person kit you are describing ("Trail Chef Cook Kit" ) no longers seems to be made. A 6-person aluminum kit is widely available, for example from Amazon. There is also an 8-person kit with 8 cups but no plates. The troops I have been with since 1981 used the plates only for serving since each Scout brought his own bowl, cup, and spoon. They usually left all but 3-4 of the plates at home base.

You have probably seen this: http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/18-625.pdf http://www.scouting.org/Home/GuideToAdvancement/BoardsofReview.aspx ​

There seems to be no study on the subject. Scouting has been going on here since 1908. I am sure I have not heard of lots of Scouting stuff since I didn't join until 1954, and this although I volunteer with a Scouting museum. The newspaper clippings (starting to fall apart) from the early years are full of reports of Scout athletic leagues . Cleveland could be an outlier, but it seems odd to be to think Cleveland was that out-of-step with the rest of the country, It was one of the first "First Class" councils and was visited by BP and BSA's Darth Vader. There is some

Scout team sports leagues were a big part of the early years of Scouting. The troop I was with for 27 years was founded in 1908. By 1914, it had two basketball teams in regular Scout league Competition.. I have not reviewed the newspaper clippings to see about other seasons. Years later, when I was A Scout, our district had a softball league and a touch football league. (The championship in California's rainy season, was the "Mud Bowl" - and it was.)

Yup. So many aspects of traditional Scouting have disappeared.

Program is supposed to be fun and interesting so it attracts boys who can then be guided to be better people and better citizens who are mentally and morally fit. Team athletics was a huge part of early Boy Scouting, with some troops having two or even more teams - many patrol teams - competing in Boy Scout leagues. Baseketball, with its smaller teams and suitability during Winter weather, was especially popular. My preference is for a stronger outdoor program, but anything that gets boys firmly in a patrol gives Scouting better access to those boys.

The quality was higher when they were made by Doan in Cleveland, But Doan couldn't meet the cost set of the RFP, ao the work wnet elsewhere - and the quality went as well.

There is no uniformity requirement.

There is no historic evidence that James West helped write the Fieldbook. His name "went on" many publications.

Beyond safety: >the CC's job is to run the Committee. >your job is to train the leaders (Scouts) and to be their resource, coach, and mentor. The classic advice is to praise publicly and criticize privately. Who addresses "doing wrong" depends on what sort of "wrong" it is. Scout's tent is a mess? Leader's (PL) job. PL screaming at Scouts? Occasion for private counseling of PL on effective leadership.

Probly' still has all his hair. )-;

qwazse !! Size 13 ? ! 0___0 Size 8 is a 25" circumference head. Size 13 would be about a 45" head. No wonder you have room for so many ideas. What's your shoe size? My oldest Smokey hat still has the price tag -- $7.95. It was a gift. Faded from wear in California. Not much use here in Ohio. When it isn't raining or ear-freezing weather, it's usually too hot for a wool hat with two tiny vents, Not to mention all the "fun" time indoors.

Stop being logical !!!!

The 2014 Administrative Guide now provides: One could say that BSA has now recognized that taking the current version of Wood Badge is not essential to ability to teach that version. But how does getting the beads necessarily indicate ability to staff? What qualification is ever 100% ? Frankly, while I didn't think it was necessary, I did understand wanting one to take a course before having him teach that course, but that's just me. Stosh, you don't need an excuse. You long service earns you the right to accept jobs that make you happy - or happier. Scouting had jobs

Not bald on top yet, are you? (^___^)

As Bill pointed out in explaining why the Scouts should pick their leader, the real answer to the question, "Who is the leader?" is "Whoever leads." As an historic example, Teddy Roosevelt was not, on paper, the commander of the regiment called the "Rough Riders." He was its leader. Assuming that you are the elected leader of your patrol, it sounds like one member of the team does not want to go along with the democratic decision . The ASPL (who should not be in a patrol as noted) needs to understand his role in the team. He is not the Quarterback or Team Captain. If he cannot grasp t